A Majestic Event Unlike Any Other
British Open golf betting offers a unique opportunity to experience sport at its tradition rich best without the mind numbing senses assault of such other events like the Super Bowl or NBA Finals. The British Open is all about tradition, respect, and an event that takes us back to a better time when sport was about sport, without the contrived mix of entertainment and marketing.
This year’s British Open golf betting will take place from Royal Lytham St. Anne in Lancashire, England on July 19-22, 2012 with 600 FedEx Cup points on the line and a total purse of $8 million. Northern Ireland’s own Darren Clarke is the defending champion. Officially referred to as “The Open,” the tournament alternates between England and Scotland and has various old historic courses that are unlike any others on the PGA Tour. Thus year’s British Open from Royal Lytham is the first to be held on that course since 2001 when David Duval took the crown.
Clarke was the third different winner in as many years after Padraig Harrington won back to back Opens in 2007 and 2008, which followed Tiger Woods winning back to back in 2005 and 2006. Clarke won last year at the Royal St. George’s Golf Club. Woods was the last American to win the event as the United States dominated with 10 wins in 12 years from 1995 through 2006.
Among the early futures favorites to win The Open would be Lee Westwood, who was the number one ranked golfer on the Official World Golf Ranking in 2010 for a period of 22 weeks and has been in the top 5 since that time. Westwood gets a lot of love and press but the fact remains he has never won a Major Championship with a best finish of 2nd at the 2010 Masters and 2nd in the 2010 Open. His dominance has been on the European Tour. Westwood enters 2012 ranked 2nd on the Official World Golf Ranking behind Luke Donald.
Donald, like Westwood, is an Englishman and has split time between the PGA and European Tours. Like Westwood, Donald is yet to win a Major as his best finish was 3rd in both the 2005 Masters and 2006 PGA Championship. He was voted the 2011 PGA Tour Player of the Year and was the leading money winner. Donald and Westwood will be among the favorites to win this year’s British Open.